Michele Nicastro

Mr. Michele Nicastro

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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24 February 2022 in Nature Genetics
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Journal Article
Closed access
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JBJulien Barc
Julien Barc
RTRafik Tadros
Rafik Tadros
CGCharlotte Glinge
Charlotte Glinge
DCDavid Chiang
David Chiang
MJMariam Jouni
Mariam Jouni
CBConnie Bezzina
Connie Bezzina

24 January 2022 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
IKIstvan Koncz
Istvan Koncz
Arie O. VerkerkArie O. Verkerk
Arie O. Verkerk
MNMichele Nicastro
Michele Nicastro
Ronald WildersRonald Wilders
Ronald Wilders
TÁTamás Árpádffy-Lovas
Tamás Árpádffy-Lovas
IEIgor Efimov
Igor Efimov
Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has a meaningful basis as a potentially effective treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. There is an ongoing VNS randomized study, and four studies are completed. However, relatively little is known about the effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on repolarization in human ventricular cardiomyocytes, as well as the effect of ACh on the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr). Here, we investigated the effect of ACh on the action potential parameters in human ventricular preparations and on IKr in human induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Using standard microelectrode technique, we demonstrated that ACh (5 µM) significantly increased the action potential duration in human left ventricular myocardial slices. ACh (5 µM) also prolonged repolarization in a human Purkinje fiber and a papillary muscle. Optical mapping revealed that ACh increased the action potential duration in human left ventricular myocardial slices and that the effect was dose-dependent. Perforated patch clamp experiments demonstrated action potential prolongation and a significant decrease in IKr by ACh (5 µM) in hiPSC-CMs. Computer simulations of the electrical activity of a human ventricular cardiomyocyte showed an increase in action potential duration upon implementation of the experimentally observed ACh-induced changes in the fully activated conductance and steady-state activation of IKr. Our findings support the hypothesis that ACh can influence the repolarization in human ventricular cardiomyocytes by at least changes in IKr.

26 April 2022 in Nature Genetics
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
JBJulien Barc
Julien Barc
RTRafik Tadros
Rafik Tadros
CGCharlotte Glinge
Charlotte Glinge
DCDavid Chiang
David Chiang
MJMariam Jouni
Mariam Jouni
CBConnie Bezzina
Connie Bezzina